Europese Commissie neemt stappen om isolatie Turks Cyprus op te heffen (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Commission has agreed measures to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community, following the rejection of the UN peace plan by the Greek Cypriot part last April.

The "aid and trade" measures agreed by the EU executive on Wednesday will mean that the Turkish north will be able to trade directly with the EU.

The Commission hopes the measures will also strengthen the economic integration and is offering a financial assistance package of 259 million euro.

Brussels has also laid down specific rules for goods crossing the so-called green line, which separates the two communities and proposed that Turkish Cypriot ports - which were closed to international trade since the island's division in 1974 - be reopened.

Enlargement Commissioner Günter Verheugen said that the measures, if adopted by EU member states, will "build new bridges between the two communities and thus keep alive hopes of the reunification of Cyprus".

The majority of Greek Cypriots rejected a UN peace plan on 24 April, denying the much poorer north EU membership benefits when the island acceded the EU bloc on 1 May.

Proposals politically important

"We believe strongly that as a precondition for a solution it would be useful to eliminate the very strong economic disparities between the south and the north. If the economic disparities continue, the economic future of the northern part would be very, very poor", he said.

He also warned that if the economy of the north remains weak, the majority of Turkish Cypriots could leave the island, leaving mainly Turkish settlers in the north.

And Mr Verheugen stressed the political rather than economic significance of the proposals, saying that they are intended to facilitate the reunification of the island.

No recognition of Turkish Cypriot part

However, he also made it clear that trade facilitation with the northern Turkish Cypriot part - which is recognised only by Ankara - will not lead to its recognition by the EU.

"We have certainly not the slightest interest to see a Turkish mini-state in the Eastern Mediterranean", he said. "Member States want co-operation but not recognition [of the Turkish Cypriot community] ... Contacts with these people are unavoidable".

The Commission is proposing that the 259 million euro for the period 2004-2006 will be spent to align the northern part with EU legislation and policies, social and economic development and the development of infrastructure, among other things.

This proposal would have to be adopted unanimously by EU member states while the proposal to facilitate direct trade from the northern part of Cyprus needs approval from a qualified majority.

Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat welcomed the Commission's proposals, describing them as a step forward.

"I need to study the proposals, but I can say this is an opening," AFP reported him as saying.

"It means in a way that trade restriction would be lifted, which was our expectation ... This should be viewed as a step forward".